Every time the socialists get in power they make a string of disastrous policy errors that lead voters to eventually throw them out. Francois Mitterarnd in office as President of France from 1981 to 1995 was another one of their Socialist Party disasters.

During part of that time the center-right parties gained control of the legislature and the government holding the office or prime minister through an awkward situation called co-habitation. Two conservative prime minister were Jacques Chirac (198688) and Édouard Balladur (199395)

After a less statist policy when he was Prime Minister (19861988), he changed his method. Then, his economic policies, based on dirigisme, state-directed ideals, stood in opposition to the laissez-faire policies of the United Kingdom, which Chirac famously described as “Anglo-Saxon ultraliberalism”.

Chirac led several other European countries in an effort to prevent the invasion against Saddam Hussein.

On 15 December 2011, the Paris court declared him guilty of diverting public funds and abusing public confidence, and gave Chirac a two-year suspended prison sentence.

After a less statist policy when he was Prime Minister (19861988), he changed his method. Then, his economic policies, based on dirigisme, state-directed ideals, stood in opposition to the laissez-faire policies of the United Kingdom, which Chirac famously described as “Anglo-Saxon ultraliberalism”.

Chirac led several other European countries in an effort to prevent the invasion against Saddam Hussein.

On 15 December 2011, the Paris court declared him guilty of diverting public funds and abusing public confidence, and gave Chirac a two-year suspended prison sentence.